afblazen

Afblazen is a Dutch verb meaning to cancel or call off a planned event, activity, or arrangement. It is used when something scheduled will not take place, typically due to weather, safety concerns, logistical problems, or other contingencies. In everyday speech and in media reports, afblazen is a common way to describe abruptly ending a plan.

The verb is formed from the prefix af- (off, away) and blazen (to blow). The figurative sense equates ending a plan with blowing it away, and it is routinely used for non-literal cancellations as well as literal acts of stopping a plan.

Usage and nuance: Afblazen is widely understood but is often more informal than afgelasten or afzeggen. Afgelasten is usually reserved for formal or officially sanctioned cancellations, while afzeggen focuses on backing out of a commitment. Afblazen tends to be used for events, performances, meetings, trips, or other plans that are halted suddenly. The construction is transitive and can appear in active form (they afblazen the festival) or in passive form (the festival was afgeblazen).

Examples: The city decided to afblazen the festival due to severe weather. The team announced that the match would be afgeblazen. In formal notices, organizers frequently use afgelasten, while journalists or speakers may opt for afblazen in less formal contexts.

See also: afzeggen, afgelasten, cancel (in Dutch usage).